Twitch

/twɪtʃ/

Meaning & Definition

noun
a quick, sudden movement.
He felt a twitch in his leg after sitting for too long.
an involuntary muscular contraction.
The doctor examined the twitch in her hand and suggested some exercises.
verb
to make a quick, sudden movement.
The dog began to twitch when it heard the sound of the treat bag.
to cause to move with a sudden jerky motion.
She twitched the curtain aside to see who was outside.
to have an involuntary muscular contraction.
His eye began to twitch nervously during the stressful situation.

Etymology

Middle English twicchen, from Old English twiccian.

Common Phrases and Expressions

twitching eye:
A condition where the eyelid involuntarily moves or spasms, usually due to stress or fatigue.
twitch of excitement:
A slight movement indicating excitement or anticipation.
twitching in your sleep:
An involuntary movement during sleep, often related to dreaming.

Related Words

Slang Meanings

To twitch with excitement or anticipation, often used in gaming contexts.
After he won the game, he was twitching with excitement.
Referring to someone who is very anxious or jittery.
He was so twitchy that it was hard to have a calm conversation.